The human race is waking up to a new level of consciousness on many fronts, and it is a beautiful thing to see! It’s clear the day is rapidly approaching when terms like “circus elephants” will simply not be part of anyone’s everyday vernacular.
If given enough time, hopefully, we’ll continue moving to an even deeper level of understanding… hardly able to fathom that there was ever a time when humans were so cruel to fellow members of the animal kingdom.
We have a long way to go, but some great strides are being made worldwide. In the last few years, there has been a definite quickening of the pace where comprehension of our cruelty to animals is concerned, and a desire to make it right.
Coming Soon: No More Circus Elephants, Anywhere
In late 2018, New Jersey passed a strict ban on traveling circus animals within state lines. Named “Nosey’s Law”, honoring the plight of an African elephant who would one day finally experience freedom in a sanctuary, the aim of the law is to make clear to all animal abusers that their presence is not welcome in New Jersey. (1)Surrounding jurisdictions have begun following suit in the months since the ban was put into effect, which is great!
In Germany, Circus Roncalli stuns fans with its incredible holographic imagery. Here, circus goers experience some of the more traditional “Barnum & Bailey” fanfare: the lions and tigers and bears (and circus elephants) routine. But thanks to this tech-savvy Big Top approach, they also see things that could never happen in real life… total flights of fancy. Picture the entire performance space rendered as a giant fishbowl, an impossibly large goldfish making fish lips at the audience from center stage. (2)
The UK, as well, is climbing aboard the cruelty-free circus train. Recently they finally passed a ban on all wild animal performers in its circuses. This is a move that delighted many animal rights activists who have been pushing for this for more than 20 years now. (3)
And now, here’s another truly heartwarming story that gives us real hope toward a new direction. The government of Denmark has purchased the last four remaining circus elephants from two different establishments. Reportedly paying 11 million kroner ($1.6 million) for the elephants, they apparently wanted to get a jump on stopping the madness. Denmark is expected to pass a ban on wild circus animals by the end of 2019, so the purchase makes a lot of sense.
Not “Circus Elephants”. Just Plain Old Elephants.
These lucky elephants, named Ramboline, Lara, Djunga, and Jenny, don’t have a permanent home secured just yet. But they do have their safety secured… the rest of their lives secured… no longer required to work as circus elephants. Now they can just live as elephants. A group known as Animal Protection Denmark has them in their care while the details are all sorted.
It won’t be long now; one day the flashing lights and scary sounds of a circus environment they were never meant for, will be a distant memory for them. It’s all we can do for the last remaining circus elephants in Denmark… give the rest of their lives back to them with as much love and care as possible.
The least we can do as we move into the future, is to stop taking their lives away to begin with. It seems we’re really starting to take that to heart, which is great news for everyone.
